Lightning arrester



United States Patent O 3,223,893 LIGHTNING ARRESTER Henry Greber, 225 W.80th St., Apt. 8-D, New York, N.Y. Filed Feb. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 171,097Claims. (Cl. 317-65) The purpose of this is to rprovide a simplelightning arrester of great current interrupting capacity, beyond thatoffered by the ones available at present. This objective is achieved byinserting a spring into the conductor leading to the gap. At passage ofcurrent through the latter, the spring is compressed and squeezes anelastic, insulated container blowing air into the gap, therebyfacilitating the interruption of the arc.

In the accompanying drawing, showing a schematic longitudinal section ofthis lightning arrester, numeral 1 designates the protected line, whichis connected by means of lead 2 to point 4, between which and electrode5 is formed a gap 3. Electrode 5 has the shape of a funnel attached tothe end of tube 6, which is connected to container 7 made of heatresistant plastics, or corrugated, asbestos insulated sheet steel. Part16 of tube 6 sticks into the container 7, which is surrounded by spring8, made of steel, or beryllium-copper. Spring 8 is connected to tube 6by means of weld 17, and is also conductively linked, by means ofconductor 9, through current limiting resistor 10 and conductor 11 toground electrode 12. Electrodes 4 and 5, as well as spring 8 andcontainer 7 are mounted in enclosure 18, made of insulating material,preferably of fiber, which releases gas when striken by an electricalarc. Metallic meshes 13 and 14, prevent the entrance of insects intoenclosure 18. Numeral 15 designates annular electrodes serving incapacity of a de-ion grid. They are placed in grooves 19, cut into thewall of container 18.

In operation of this lightning arrester, when conductor 1 is subjectedto a voltage surge, gap 3 is overbridged by the arc, and thecorresponding current owing through the winding of spring 8 causes it tobe retracted by the action of parallel currents attracting each other inconsecutive windings. The retracted spring 8, presses container 7, fromwhich air is blown through tube 6 into gap 3. The arc is interrupted atthe passage of the current through zero, because of the elongation ofthe arc caused by retraction of the spring, and also because of themechanical interruption of the arc by the air coming out from tube 6, bythe cooling of the arc space by this air, and by its replacing theionized gas in the arc space. If container 18 is made of ber, the latterif in contact with the arc, releases gas which also contributes to theextinction of the arc. The latter eiec-t is not essential to thefunctioning of this lighting arrester. Similarly, the funnel-shaped end5 of tube 6 can be lined with 3,223,893 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 fiber,which can also release gas facilitating the interruption of the arc. Ifsuch lining is not used, electrode 5 may be simply tubular.

This lightning arrester can be used for A.C. and D.C. power andcommunication lines, for over-voltage protection of electric powerstations and sub-stations, high and low voltage overhead lines, as Wellas for protection of transformers and rotating electric machinery. Sinceafter passage of the current the spring returns to its original shape,and the container is lled with air, the lightning arrester is ready forrepeat operation. The gap can be arranged in vertical position, as wellas the spring, which can be mounted in a housing of porcelain, glass,plas-tics. Such lightning arresters with three gaps, for three phasescan be put in one housing which can be mounted on one bracket connectedto one current limiting resistor linked to ground. A spring of strap, orof coiled steel Wire can be used. Many other modications and variationsof this lightning arrester can be made in the spirit and within thescope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lightning arrester of at least two counterposed electrodes, one ofwhich being connected to the protected line, the other to a coilembracing an elastic insulated container having an outlet in thedirection of said gap, into which air is blown from said elasticcontainer when the latter is squeezed by the coil, which is retractedwhen it is passed by the llightning lcurrent.

2. A lightning arrester consisting of two counterposed electrodes, oneof which being connected to a spring which is contracted at the passageof current through it.

3. A lightning arrester as in claim 2, except that said spring embracesan elastic, insulated container connected to a tube which serves as oneof the electrodes and is provided with a cone lined with fiber and boricacid, said lining releasing gas under the influence of an arc betweenthe electrodes, said spring being connected to ground through theintermediary of a current limiting resistor.

4. A lightning arrester as in claim 2, except that said spiing is madeof steel and is of conical shape on both en s.

5. A lightning arrester as in claim 2, except that said spring is madeof beryllium-copper.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 996,979 7/1911Dempster 313-171 X 1,382,795 6/192-1 McNeill 313-152 1,844,687 2/1932Sabbath et al 313-171 X GEORGE N. WESTBY, Primary Examiner.

DAVID I. GALVIN, Examiner.

1. A LIGHTING ARRESTER OF AT LEAST TWO COUNTERPOSED ELECTRODES, ONE OFWHICH BEING CONNECTED TO THE PROTECTED LINE, THE OTHER TO A COILEMBRACING AN ELASTIC INSULATED CONTAINER HAVING AN OUTLET IN THEDIRECTION OF SAID GAP, INTO WHICH AIR IS BLOWN FROM SAID ELASTICCONTAINER WHEN THE LATTER IS SEQUEEZED BY THE COIL, WHICH IS RETRACTEDWHEN IT IS PASSED BY THE LIGHTING CURRENT.